Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Jazz Festival New York Posts 2025 Lineup
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
With such a high concentration of talent in such a small town, it’s no wonder that players in New Orleans switch bands like free agents. Nowhere is that more true than in the brass band community, the center of which was, for many years, a tiny club called the Glass House.
On Saturday, April 30, under menacing clouds and rain, the Jazz Fest reunited a huge crew of top brass players who spent countless nights and early mornings playing at the legendary spot for a Glass House Reunion, which one local DJ said was the best music he’s seen at the Fairgrounds this year.
Sousaphone staple, Kirk Joseph joined Gregory Davis and Efram Townes on on trumpet, Roger Louis and Kevin Harris on saxes and Lionel Battiste, Jr., Jennell Marshall and Benny Jones on drums for a rousing hour-long set that had the crowd second lining and cheering as if the sky were sunny and the ground were dry. Despite not playing together as regularly these days, the group knocked out tight horn lines and solos, including one bubbling baritone solo by Lewis that must have been inspired by the energy onstage.
With Dirty Dozen reunion shows all over town and the new brass band stage at the Fairgrounds, this native New Orleans music is finally starting to get its due credit.
Later, Ike Turner closed out the blues tent, featuring a backup singer whose vocal tone and even her appearance resembled Tina Turner’s a little too closely, audience members said during the set. Other festival highlights included Roy Haynes’ 80th birthday celebration and Nicholas Payton’s Sonic Trance set in the Jazz Tent.
The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall.
Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.
Apr 15, 2025 11:44 AM
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in…
“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”
Apr 15, 2025 11:55 AM
DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, the premiere…
“It kind of slows down, but it’s still kind of productive in a way, because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America, when he was 80. “The music is always inspiring.”
Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
